Russian FM vows to help end Ukraine crisis, probe MH17 crash

DUSHANBE, July 30 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said here Wednesday his country will do its best to help end the bloodshed in Ukraine and investigate the MH17 incident.

"We have found common ground that there is an urgent need to end the bloodshed and immediately launch a negotiating process to find a solution acceptable for all sides," Lavrov said after talks with his Tajik counterpart, Sirojiddin Aslov.

He added that Russia will do everything that depends on it to foster necessary conditions for the implementation of the Geneva Agreements of April 17, which mapped out concrete steps to de-escalate tensions and restore security for all Ukrainians.

Meanwhile, he also pledged that Russia will do its best to help execute UN Security Council Resolution 2166, which envisaged a thorough and independent international investigation into the July 17 crash of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17.

All 298 people aboard the ill-fated flight were killed in the tragedy, which has shocked the world amid suspicions that the Boeing 777 jetliner was shot down.